Tetsuo Time

I just stumbled into this today and I thought it was silly. It has keys such as the "I need my space" key, the "useless key" and the "somewhat useless key". Other keys such as the backspace become the "OOOPS!" key. The letter keys get their own special labeling like the X key gets "XOXO" on it. All of this in bubble gum pink. This whole concept and web site is just too funny. The music is also interesting\kind of catchy.

I just stumbled into this today and I thought it was silly. It has keys such as the "I need my space" key, the "useless key" and the "somewhat useless key". Other keys such as the backspace become the "OOOPS!" key. The letter keys get their own special labeling like the X key gets "XOXO" on it. All of this in bubble gum pink. This whole concept and web site is just too funny. The music is also interesting\kind of catchy.

Tonight my left shift key stopped working after I was cleaning my keyboard. No I didn't take it apart I cleaned it first with a damp cloth and then with a cotton swab and some alcohol for the finger oils. But then later I noticed my left shift key is not working and I know it's not because of any setting in the OS because I plugged in my old apple keyboard and the left shift key works fine on it. Maybe some alcohol or water moisture got in there and it needs to fully dry out? I don't know... all I know is for now it's not working. I hope I don't have to get me a new aluminum keyboard to have a working left shift key again... I don't want to go back to using the old bulky crumb bucket. Too bad I don't have a genius bar in my town because I would take it there if it doesn't work later on. The left shift key is the one I use the most when typing in a capitalized letter and it's awkward being without it. That keyboard is a little over a year old and they still cost $50 getting it from Apple so that's another reason why it would suck if that key was permanently non-functional.

*update*
I tried my keyboard on another computer and the shift key on it doesn't work there either so i broke down and ordered me a new one... but for at least $10 less
6:48i got it at compusa when it first came out and my family chose not to get the warranty and i didn't get applecare so it definitely isn't covered.

I don't want to go back to the old bulky crumb buckets!
I'm spoiled by the new keyboard

I just noticed this article. I hadn't noticed this but now that they have pointed it out I notice it. Shows how much I use capslock.

I actually haven't noticed it until it was pointed out. Although it's not exactly how they make it seem on that article. All the new keyboard does for me is ignore quick taps of the capslock key presumably so you can't accidently turn it on. I'm actually all for that feature it's a common thing for people to accidently hit the capslock key and it's annoying to me personally would do it. The fact that I didn't notice though goes to show how much I actually use the capslock. I only use it once in a blue moon and when I use it I deliberately press the key I don't tap it.

Of course as with anything it seems like it's a polarizing issue. I'm like what isn't a polarizing issue on a computer? Most things are about personal preference. If you don't like the new apple keyboards no one is forcing you to use them. I personally like them though.

So to recap:

When it's off:
A tap will be ignored
A press will turn on capslock*

When it's on:
Any tap or press will turn it off

*You don't have to hold down the key like you do the eject key you just have to press it. You don't have to press and hold it down a few seconds like Wired suggests.

It kind of reminds me of how on certain fighting games on the gameboy a tap of a button will do a quick kick\quick punch but a press will do a hard punch\hard kick.

Some sites like Gizmodo have even gone so far as to say, "If you picked up a wired version of Apple's new thin aluminum keyboard you may have noticed that the caps lock function is all but useless. Only a good long press of the key will activate the function, and if you so much as breathe on it, caps lock disengages."

Hyperbole anyone?

I like that a company has done something about that damn caps lock key other than removing it. For some applications it's necessary.

I just noticed this article. I hadn't noticed this but now that they have pointed it out I notice it. Shows how much I use capslock.

I actually haven't noticed it until it was pointed out. Although it's not exactly how they make it seem on that article. All the new keyboard does for me is ignore quick taps of the capslock key presumably so you can't accidently turn it on. I'm actually all for that feature it's a common thing for people to accidently hit the capslock key and it's annoying to me personally would do it. The fact that I didn't notice though goes to show how much I actually use the capslock. I only use it once in a blue moon and when I use it I deliberately press the key I don't tap it.

Of course as with anything it seems like it's a polarizing issue. I'm like what isn't a polarizing issue on a computer? Most things are about personal preference. If you don't like the new apple keyboards no one is forcing you to use them. I personally like them though.

So to recap:

When it's off:
A tap will be ignored
A press will turn on capslock*

When it's on:
Any tap or press will turn it off

*You don't have to hold down the key like you do the eject key you just have to press it. You don't have to press and hold it down a few seconds like Wired suggests.

It kind of reminds me of how on certain fighting games on the gameboy a tap of a button will do a quick kick\quick punch but a press will do a hard punch\hard kick.

Some sites like Gizmodo have even gone so far as to say, "If you picked up a wired version of Apple's new thin aluminum keyboard you may have noticed that the caps lock function is all but useless. Only a good long press of the key will activate the function, and if you so much as breathe on it, caps lock disengages."

Hyperbole anyone?

I like that a company has done something about that damn caps lock key other than removing it. For some applications it's necessary.

As some of you may know the optimus_project has been working on a keyboard that has mini displays for keys so it can change depending on application. Well, apparently someone actually has a working model in their posession now. What amused me today was how some people at Gizmodo have commented have commented that it looks like a glorified light bright or very christmas-ey. I have to admit that it does look pretty festive. ;) I liked how it looked with black and white keys a bit more actually. However, like I have said before I don't think I would ever be able to justify the price for it. I'm also happy with my aluminum apple keyboard although I would like it if I could rearrange the top keys.

Here they talk about a new keyboard that Apple is supposed to be making for the new iMac coming soon. While the keyboard on the MacBook does look nice I wouldn't like it if they just made it like they chopped it off and put it on the iMac. The new keyboard should have all the keys that the old keyboard has and it should have less area around the outside of the typing area because it's not attached to a notebook. I wouldn't like it if it had a huge bevel around the whole keyboard like older keyboards have. I've gotten used to how the current keyboard has a slim outline. Dell has a newer one that is similar that I have used at school only it's missing the volume\eject keys.

Some people where saying they don't like the current keyboard because it's keys are "squishy" but I like them they don't seem "squishy" to me they just seem quieter than older keyboards.

I also wish they would drop the "mac mini is soon-to-be-sacrificed" thing until it's officially confirmed... so far I haven't seen anything about that other than their rumor mongering. What are they hoping for? A lie being repeated enough becomes truth for people?

Here they talk about a new keyboard that Apple is supposed to be making for the new iMac coming soon. While the keyboard on the MacBook does look nice I wouldn't like it if they just made it like they chopped it off and put it on the iMac. The new keyboard should have all the keys that the old keyboard has and it should have less area around the outside of the typing area because it's not attached to a notebook. I wouldn't like it if it had a huge bevel around the whole keyboard like older keyboards have. I've gotten used to how the current keyboard has a slim outline. Dell has a newer one that is similar that I have used at school only it's missing the volume\eject keys.

Some people where saying they don't like the current keyboard because it's keys are "squishy" but I like them they don't seem "squishy" to me they just seem quieter than older keyboards.

I also wish they would drop the "mac mini is soon-to-be-sacrificed" thing until it's officially confirmed... so far I haven't seen anything about that other than their rumor mongering. What are they hoping for? A lie being repeated enough becomes truth for people?

I don't know how I missed this before... this page shows how you can make your very own steampunk keyboard. I featured the steampunk laptop before but I like this one even more because this project simply looks nicer. The idea that they used (clothes) buttons to make keys was cute to me also.

I also like their other projects on that site like the Altoids can etchings. I would like to see them do more computer related projects though.

It looks like me tagging my entries is starting to pay off. If you click on the steampunk tag on this or the next entry you can see all my posts regarding the subject. I gotta say.. the steampunk laptop I wrote about earlier isn't as tastefully done as this is.

.......... How did I miss the TARDIS in the last video demonstrating how you can touch type with this keyboard? O_o;

I just saw this at engadget... and I wanted to post it simply because I like pretty gadgets no matter how impractical they are in terms of expense or whatever. This keyboard sure does look pretty and the possibilties of changing the keys to whatever you want for your different applications is interesting. But at around 1,400 dollars too rich for my blood.

Link